The Philippine National Police has formed tracker teams to hunt down the remaining accused in the killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, following the issuance of arrest warrants by a Mandaluyong City court.
At least three of the accused remain at large—retired police colonel and former National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, former policemen Nelson Enriquez Mariano, and Jeremy Causapin.
Another accused, retired police colonel and former PCSO chairperson Royima Garma, reportedly agreed to become a witness against former president Rodrigo Duterte while Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza is under police custody.
It was Mendoza who tagged Garma and Leonardo as the people who ordered him to assassinate Barayuga under the guise of a drug war.
Before the killing, Barayuga was allegedly preparing all the pieces of evidence in relation to the alleged corruption in the PCSO.
“The Philippine National Police respects and upholds the order of the Mandaluyong court. We are duty-bound to implement lawful orders issued by our courts, and the PNP is already preparing to carry out the necessary procedures to serve the warrant of arrest,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.
He said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and other concerned units were tasked to coordinate with regional police offices and intelligence divisions to monitor movements of the suspects and effect immediate arrests once operational conditions allow.
He stressed that the PNP will uphold due process while ensuring swift execution of the warrant.
“I have already directed the Director, CIDG to create tracker teams to implement the arrest warrant. Other units were instructed to assist. The PNP is committed to swift and decisive action, with due consideration for the rights of all parties involved. Our priority is to bring the suspects before the proper court without delay,” said Nartatez. (Aaron Recuenco)
